Abstract
An undescribed giant Lobelia with very distinctive leaves was discovered in 1972 by Dr D. Mabberley on one of the peaks in the Ukaguru Mts in central Tanzania. As only sterile plants were found it was left unnamed as L. sp. A in his recent revision of the group (Mabberley 1974). In June 1978 I had the opportunity to visit these mountains and on the same peak, Mnyera, I was fortunate to find a single individual of the Lobelia in flower along with perhaps 30-40 sterile plants of various ages, including several seedlings. The species appeared to be well known to the local people (Kaguru) who considered it a holy plant to which they used to sacrifice (hence the specific epithet). It was said to occur also on some other peaks, one of which, Matandu, we visited however without finding the plant. The species is thus known for certain only in a single small population. The locality is situated well inside the Mamiwa Forest Reserve, so the continued existence of the species seems assured.
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